Danelectro Dead on 58 Longhorn Bass, Copper Burst Review

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(More customer reviews)[Update 2 August, '10] After two of these things, the problems just kept appearing. The tone control circuit has the wrong value pots (1Meg!) on this version and therefore the tone controls don't work. Despite the "TOTALLY SHIELDED" label, the instrument in fact has absolutely no (0) shielding at all except the fully encased pickups.
It appears that Danelectro has quietly discontinued this botched model as it has been removed from their site sometime in the past couple of weeks. [End update]
It would be difficult to exaggerate the fatal problems this instrument has, but to start with the most basic, both the tuning machines and the bridge plate are for a GUITAR, which means that they will fail. The bridgeplate on mine was collapsed from the excess pull from the bass strings right out of the box. The machines were grossly overloaded, turned only with difficulty and would not stay in tune. The string tension is roughly three times that for which they were designed, and these are not even good-quality guitar machines. The strings that come on the bass do not fit, with the full .100" diameter length of the E string being too long, and too stiff to wrap around the small guitar post on the machine. The string tension is in excess of what the bridge mounting screws can handle, and these were already bent on mine.
The bridge pickup has almost no output, even at full extension and closest practicable distance from the strings. The finish is a cheaper matte than previous Danelectro Longhorns, which also had more serviceable bridges and machines.
These problems will be common to ALL of these, plus whatever individual defects yours will have. Mine had a irreparably bad nut and broken nut screw and the stacked control knobs bound against each other. Combined with the other problems, it was unplayable -- it could not be tuned nor would it retain pitch.
Some previous Danelectro Longhorn models were serviceable instruments -- this one is not. This "Dead On '58" is already being referred to as the "DOA." They're not kidding.

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The Dead On '58 Longhorn Electric Bass Guitar from Danelectro is an authentic reissue that features a radical longhorn cutaway body style that gives complete fretboard access, a satin copper burst finish, nickel hardware, a truss rod that adjusts at the headstock, the original swivel rosewood bridge that intonates, and Lipstick pickups.

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